New Zealand volcano erupts: One dead and dozens 'unaccounted for'
By Alison Chung, news reporter
At least one person has died and dozens are "unaccounted for" after a volcano erupted in New Zealand.
Police said there are likely to be other fatalities as they try to rescue up to 50 people from White Island, which is uninhabited but frequented by tourists.
They confirmed 23 people have so far been rescued, with most transferred to hospital with burns.
Volcano on White Island in New Zealand erupts. Pic: GeoNet
Image: The GeoNet agency said a moderate volcanic eruption had occurred at around 2.11pm. Pic: GeoNet
Police also said that it is too dangerous to search the island following the eruption, but a statement from St John Ambulance said it had now dispatched paramedics on helicopters, and was aiming to establish a triage unit on the island.
The eruption began at about 2.11pm local time.
Police said the person who has been confirmed as dead was rescued from the island.
They did not know if they were a New Zealander or not.
Officers are hoping to locate the people who are unaccounted for through the passenger list from the cruise ship where many of the tourists had come from.
They added that they do not expect any significant impact on New Zealand's North Island, one of the country's two main islands, which is about 30 miles (50km) west of White Island - also known by the indigenous Maori name Whakaari.
The eruption threw an ash plume about 12,000ft (3,658m) high, New Zealand's geoscience agency GNS Science said. Pic: GeoNet
Image: The eruption threw an ash plume about 12,000ft (3,658m) high, New Zealand's geoscience agency GNS Science said. Pic: GeoNet
Earlier, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the incident appeared to be "very significant".
"A number of people are reportedly injured and are being transported to shore," she said.
The GeoNet agency said a moderate volcanic eruption had occurred, throwing smoke and debris about 12,000ft (3,660m) into the air, and raised its alert level to four, on a scale where five represents a major eruption.
Injured people are taken back to the mainland
Image: Injured people are taken back to the mainland
Dr Ken Gledhill, technical adviser at GNS Science, said it was "not a particularly big eruption" and was "almost like a throat clearing kind of eruption which is why material won't make it to the mainland".
"For volcanic eruptions it's not large but if you were close it's not good," he added.
"It's shown increased activity over the past few weeks so we raised the alert.
"We can't be certain there won't be another eruption in the next 24 hours."
There will be questions asked as to why tourists were still able to visit the island after scientists recently noted an uptick in volcanic activity.
A statement from The New Zealand Cruise Association (NZCA) said it is "very concerned about some visitors to White Island at the time of the eruption who are passengers from the Ovation of the Seas which is visiting Tauranga."
NZCA Chief Executive Officer Kevin O'Sullivan added: "Our primary concern right now is with the wellbeing of the passengers and all those involved. We would like to extend our heartfelt concern to the passengers and their families.
"Our hope is that everyone will be recovered quickly and unharmed, but at this time we have no further information."
Police have told people to avoid areas on North Island that are close to the eruption, including the Whakatane Heads and Muriwai Drive areas. A no-fly zone has also been established.
Several people have been injured
White Island is New Zealand's most active cone volcano and about 70% of the volcano is under the sea.
Twelve people were killed on the island in 1914 when it was being mined for sulphur. Part of a crater wall collapsed and a landslide destroyed the miners' village and the mine itself.
The remains of buildings from another mining enterprise in the 1920s are now a tourist attraction, according to GeoNet.
The island became a private scenic reserve in 1953, and daily tours allow more than 10,000 people to visit the volcano every year.
More follows...
By Alison Chung, news reporter
At least one person has died and dozens are "unaccounted for" after a volcano erupted in New Zealand.
Police said there are likely to be other fatalities as they try to rescue up to 50 people from White Island, which is uninhabited but frequented by tourists.
They confirmed 23 people have so far been rescued, with most transferred to hospital with burns.
Volcano on White Island in New Zealand erupts. Pic: GeoNet
Image: The GeoNet agency said a moderate volcanic eruption had occurred at around 2.11pm. Pic: GeoNet
Police also said that it is too dangerous to search the island following the eruption, but a statement from St John Ambulance said it had now dispatched paramedics on helicopters, and was aiming to establish a triage unit on the island.
The eruption began at about 2.11pm local time.
Police said the person who has been confirmed as dead was rescued from the island.
They did not know if they were a New Zealander or not.
Officers are hoping to locate the people who are unaccounted for through the passenger list from the cruise ship where many of the tourists had come from.
They added that they do not expect any significant impact on New Zealand's North Island, one of the country's two main islands, which is about 30 miles (50km) west of White Island - also known by the indigenous Maori name Whakaari.
The eruption threw an ash plume about 12,000ft (3,658m) high, New Zealand's geoscience agency GNS Science said. Pic: GeoNet
Image: The eruption threw an ash plume about 12,000ft (3,658m) high, New Zealand's geoscience agency GNS Science said. Pic: GeoNet
Earlier, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the incident appeared to be "very significant".
"A number of people are reportedly injured and are being transported to shore," she said.
The GeoNet agency said a moderate volcanic eruption had occurred, throwing smoke and debris about 12,000ft (3,660m) into the air, and raised its alert level to four, on a scale where five represents a major eruption.
Injured people are taken back to the mainland
Image: Injured people are taken back to the mainland
Dr Ken Gledhill, technical adviser at GNS Science, said it was "not a particularly big eruption" and was "almost like a throat clearing kind of eruption which is why material won't make it to the mainland".
"For volcanic eruptions it's not large but if you were close it's not good," he added.
"It's shown increased activity over the past few weeks so we raised the alert.
"We can't be certain there won't be another eruption in the next 24 hours."
There will be questions asked as to why tourists were still able to visit the island after scientists recently noted an uptick in volcanic activity.
A statement from The New Zealand Cruise Association (NZCA) said it is "very concerned about some visitors to White Island at the time of the eruption who are passengers from the Ovation of the Seas which is visiting Tauranga."
NZCA Chief Executive Officer Kevin O'Sullivan added: "Our primary concern right now is with the wellbeing of the passengers and all those involved. We would like to extend our heartfelt concern to the passengers and their families.
"Our hope is that everyone will be recovered quickly and unharmed, but at this time we have no further information."
Police have told people to avoid areas on North Island that are close to the eruption, including the Whakatane Heads and Muriwai Drive areas. A no-fly zone has also been established.
Several people have been injured
White Island is New Zealand's most active cone volcano and about 70% of the volcano is under the sea.
Twelve people were killed on the island in 1914 when it was being mined for sulphur. Part of a crater wall collapsed and a landslide destroyed the miners' village and the mine itself.
The remains of buildings from another mining enterprise in the 1920s are now a tourist attraction, according to GeoNet.
The island became a private scenic reserve in 1953, and daily tours allow more than 10,000 people to visit the volcano every year.
More follows...
Comment